Classifier and dewaterer.



w. ,mpnwm CLASSIFIER A Nn DEWMERER. APPLICATION FELEVD `JULY 22,1915. J

1,201,014. 5P; rented ont. 10, 1916.

U 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. 71:01 l

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

appueanon med my 22',

Y To all whom 'it mog/ concern:

A Salt Lake City,

' the several views, Figure 1 is a vertioal'cross an enlarged crosssectional View on the line" V ratus shown in the said Be it known that I, Vennen J. BoonwxN, acitizen of the United States, resid' `at` in the countx.- of Sal andk State of Utah, have inventdceif A and useful Improvements inf; Dewaterers, of which the ff specification.' ik; i My invention relates to'an. apparatus de signed primarily for dewaterin sllrnes of ore wherein the metal and 'nations of parts which scribe and claim.

In the accompanying drawing part of this specification and in whlch similill reference Acharacters indicatelike parts-in I will hereinufterde Vsectional view of an apparatus constructed according to my 1nvent1on. F1g.'2 `1s a topf"1 plan view with the superstructure or frame-1l work omitted. Fi

3 is a top plan viewo the cone with the ights removed. Fig. 4 is 4-4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig, 1, showing the apparatusy provided with a fro`th-reta`ining hood and showing the apparatus designed as a defrother for vflotation i or other concentrates. Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of an edge portion of a porous bottom for the pan. 4-

In a prior Patent Number 1,140,1' 93, dated 25, 1915, I have illustrated and described a classifier and dewaterer having for l f its essential purposes the classication, wash ing, mixing'and dewatering of sands and `slimes of ore and wherein means are pro vided for advancing the ore upwardly over a submerged inelmed surface and out oi.' the water and onto an appropriate unsubmcrged draining portion of said surface. The pres ent invention is related to the type of appaprior patent, and such apparatus is employed in the present instance in `order that ybe better understood leading feature of the said improvement being the ap. lication to the conical portion of the prior atented construction, or its equivaient, of a bottom provided with some appropriete porous or filter medium and kan unand apprmfiated, the

.rated solid constituents,

frauds. 'endif hlt'rlpona suitable foundation, or framework, 'ticles are progressively fedqup aniicliiied sah-gl I merged surface, and out of the water onto an,y appropriate unsubmerged draining surface; i my invention consists of the parts und l thel constructions, arrangements and combi`V the in'iprovements mayI .11. BOUD'WIN, or SALT LAKE CITY, Uran, nssrenon To THE GENERAL ENG;-

tEEnINoconPANY, 0F sam"y LAKE CITY,` UTAH,

- `cLAssI'rInn AND DEWATERER.

Bpecliicetion of` Letters `Patent.

A CORPORATION 0F UTAH.

chambers the pan may and the sepan ore particles and the like of thepulp'or slimes may be progresderlying l' vacuum chamber or whereby the'liquid contents of b e drawn through said Abottom d. -Slvely advanced upwardly` over the inclined surface and onto an thereof and, finally, discharge.

, f nfthe typeof apparatus shown, I mount unsubmerged portion be delivered to a central a panflike structure, cated'eone, A, `ther turnedat a suitable 'an annular trough Iturned portion ci' which comprises a trunbase yportion of which is angle to form a rim and4 or "gutter, B, said -upthe rim being provided o ffrom the pan maybe received, said over- ,fiowbeingin a plane ,below the plane of the apical portion of the cone, and having a verieal wall acting as an over-How or Weir which ommuni'cates with the said launder. jAtth there i is provided an 'opening through which `the ore particles which are advanced upV the inclined sides of the cone in. the manner I `will hereinafter describe and as disclosed in my aforesaid prior patent, may be discharged, said opening communicating with a vertical' pipe, D, below the lower ordisvcharge end of which is a suitable belt orotlier conveyer, I,

Mounted vertically in 'a line of the eoe, is a shaft, F, and concentric with this shaft-is a `second shaft, li", the lower portions of Said shafts having connected to them the series of downwardly converging arms, o' and l, provided with appropriate curved flights, c, c', respectively, the construction and arrangement of which may follow more or less closely the similar fiightsv or rabbles ofmy former patent, or they may be of anyv appropriate and well known character. The two sets of arms operate over different portions of the cone, the uppermost and longest arm having its flights operating over the sulunerged portion` of the cone and the Rights of the arms having its flights .olierating over thev upper and unsubmerged portion of the cone. The shaft to which the longer armsl aresecured, is operated at a comparatively low speed and. adaptedto progressively move the f I ith a suitable launder into which the overwith the apex e ap'exor central portion 'of the cone other and shorter series of it. ybeveled pinion, 15, which meshes with a bevtrough, J, as in the prior patented construcsecured. A suitable cross belt, 13, or other connection drives a pulley, 1a', or equivalent gear, the shaft of which is provided with a eled gear, 16, on the shaft to which the other set of arms, namely, the shorter and fast moving arms are secured. These arms are also shown as supporting an annular feed tion, but manifestly7V any other type of feeding device may be .substituted therefor, if desired.

In thefpresent instance, instead of making the bottom of the pan, or more properly speaking, the cone, A, solid and impervious,-

I now form this bottom of some appropriate permeable material, as canvas, or such other porous material as will permit the liquid constituents of the pulp to filter therethrough. To assist this action and produce "a positive filtering function, I form in the coneunderlying the fibrous or other filtering surface, a vacuum chamber or chambers, 16', which chambers extend substantially throughout the entire area of the cone, and are connectedv to valve-controlled branches, 17, to an appropriate pipe, 18, which may lead to a vacuum pump or other suction or eX- haustingl device, not shown, and the function of which is to create a suction beneath the permeable or filtering bottom of the' cone to thereby draw therethrough the liquid constituents of the pulp being treated while the coarser sands or metalliferous particles will be retained in a submerged condition on the inclined filter surface and ivill. be progressively advanced upward over the same and out of the water and onto the unsubmerged or draining portion of the cone and finally be delivered into the discharge passage.

' The specific construction `of the porous bottom of the pan, or the upper surface of the cone portiontliereof, is immaterial. In the drawings I show a filtering cloth for the top surface and I support this cloth on appropriate spreaders, 20, which form a backing for the cloth, and I subdivide the air or vacuum chamber into compartments by means of partitions, 21, or otherwise, to each of which compartments one of the branches of the suction pipe, leads. Also, in order to make a tight joint between the bottom end'of the' cone and the adjacent impervious Any well known form of operatingwall of the gutter which surrounds the base of the cone, I may use any well known form of packing, 22. The ltering surface of the cone may be made up of a number of sections, 23, of segmental form, as illustrated i in Fig. 3, to facilitate the removal and replacement of any one ormore of the sections and each of these sections may be composed of canvas or other filtering material having an interior woven wire or other plate, 24, which serves as a backing and stiffener for the filtering bottom.

In Fig. 5, I show the foregoing improvements in connection with a stationary hood, 25, which encircles the upper portion of the cone and. which would be used for receiving froth from an appropriate frothing machine, various types of which are now used in connection with the so-called -buoyant 1 processes of saving mineral particles.

Ihe hood connects with suitable feed pipes, 26, and the froth delivered thereto and within an annular channeh 27, surrounding the hood, may be received upon a, I

wooden or., other iioat, 28,V which is supported upon the surface of the water in the pan, the froth overflowing a vertical flange, 29, which 'forms the inner wall of the gutter and being directed toward the upper and unsubmerged portion of the cone, and as this portion of the cone has an underlying suction chamber, it will be apparent that' the action of the air in passing tliroughthe' overlying lter surface will tend to break down and destroy the bubbles and liberate the liquid content thereof which will be drawn through the filtering sur-faceand into the suction pipe, as before described, While the liberated concentrates will be advanced upwardly over the upper portion of the cone 'and into the central discharge.

In practice, and disregarding at the present time the manner in which the material might be fed to the pan, as also the character of said material, the action of the suction devices is to draw fluid matter through" the permeable bottom while: the solid particles, of Whatever loharacter, are deposited 'on said bottom anld are progressivelyy advanced thereover in an upward direction, these particles being moved at low speed while beingcarried over the submerged portion of the cone and at a high speed while being carried over the unsubmerged upper portion of the cone, this progression of the particles being effected by the flights, -rabbles, or other devices fixed to and movable with the arms, beforev mentioned, and the operation of which parts is similar to that described in the prior patent mentioned. In-

order that the pores of the filtering medium may be relieved of obstructing matter and the surface of the filter thus renewed or cleaned, I may connect with the suction pipe a valve-controlled branch, 30, through'which compressed air may be admitted under pressaid pan having aliquid overflow arranged in a plane below the plane of the apical portion ofthe pan; 4means for lapplying a suction to the underside oftheporouslportionl of the pan gand meansfor progressively moving sands and slimes upwardly overthe .poroussurface ofthe pan and onto i and overY an unsubmergedportion thereof.

`2. The combination of. .i panhaving a conical portion 'and a surrounding gutter at the base thereof, said conical portion being porous to-permit the passage of liquid and said pan having a peripheral overflow and a central discharge, and having a'suction chamber underlymg the porousportlon',n said central portion of the pan projecting above,

the plane of the pulp level oi' the pan and being unsubmerged, and said suction chamber extending under the unsubmerged central portion of the pan, and means for progressively moving sands and slimes Yupwardly over theporous surface ofthe pan and onto and over the unsubmerged portion thereof.

3. The combination of a pan having a conical portion and an upturned rim forming a gutter at thebase thereof,'said conical portion being permeable and having an underlying suction chamber, and members operating over the permeable conical surface of the pan having means for progressively moving sandsand slimes upwardly over said surface and over an unsubmerged portion thereof, said -pan having means for discharging solids at its apex and having an over liow lying in a plane below the plane of vthe apical portion of the pan.

4. The combination in a panl1 aving conical portion and an upturned rim forming a gutter at the base thereof, said conical portion Vbeing permeable and having an underlying-suction chamber, and said upturned portion having a vertical liange over the edge of which water and slimes overow, and members operable over the permeable conical surface oi the pan having means for 'progressively moving sands and slimes upwardly thereover and over an unsubmerged portion thereof, the overflow of the pan heilig in a plane below the plane of the apical portion of the pan and said apical portion of the pan having means 'for dis charging solids.

5. The combination of a circular pan hav gutter at ing a conical .portionand an upturnedi rim a forming a gutter at the base of the cone,

said conical portion being permeable and having an underlying suction chamber, and said upturned portion having a vertical flange over which water overiiows, and arms operable over the conical surface'of-the pan having means for progressively moving sands and slimes upwardly.4 thereover and Vits apex. v

6. The combination of a circular pan havmg a conical portion, an upturned rim form- ;a gutter at the; base of the cone, said co ical portion being permeable and having an underlying suction chamber, inclined arms arranged substantially parallel with r the inclined surface of the pan and having means for progressively moving sands'and slimes upwardly thereover and over' an unsubmerged portion thereof, said pan having an overliow in a plane below the plane of the apical portion of the cone and below the unsubmerged portion, and having means for discharging solids at the apex, a vertical shaft to which the inner endsof the arms are connected, and means for rotating said shaft to cause the arms to sweep over-the conical portion of the pan. v

7. The combination of a circular pan hav ing a conical portion, an upturned rim form'' ing a gutter at the base of the cone, said conical portion being permeable and having an underlying suction chamber, an upper and a lower series of inclined arms each having means for sands and slimes upwardly over the inclined surface of the pan, one of said series of arms operating overl the submerged portion of the pan andthe other series of arms operating over the unsubmerged portion of the pan, said panl having aV liquid overflow in a plane below the plane-'of the apical portion of the cone and having means for discharging solids at the apex, shafts to which the arms are connected, and means for rotating said shafts to cause the arms to sweep over the respective conical portions of the pan.

8. The combination of a circular an h avying a conical portion, an upturned rim forning a gutter atthe base of the cone, said conical portion being permeable and having an underlying suction chamber, an upper and a lower series of inclined arms each having means for progressively moving Asands and slimes upwardly over the inclined surface of the pan, one of said series of arms operating over the submerged portion lof the panfand the other series of arms loperatl ing lover the unsubmerged portion of the progressively movingpan, said pan having a liquid overflow in a plane below the plane of the apical portion of the cone and having means for discharging solids at the apex, shafts to which the arms are connected, means for rotating said shafts to cause the arms to sweep over the respective conical portions of the pan, and means rotating the shafts at different speeds.

9. The combination of a circular pan having a conical portion and an upturned rim forming a gutterat the base of the cone, said conical portion being permeable and having an underlying suction chamber, arms operable over the conical surface of the pan having means for progressively moving sands and slimes upwardly thereover and over an unsubmcrged portion thereof7 said pan having a discharge opening for solids at its apeX andv having an overflow for water 'in a plane belowthe plane of the a ical portion, and means for delivering material to be treated upon the inclined surfacp of said pan.

10. lilhe combination of a circular pan having a permeable conical portion and means forming at the base thereoffan' annula'i gutter, arms operable over "the inclined surface of the 'pan having means for progressively moving sands and slimes upwardly thereover and over an unsubmerged portion thereof, said pan'having a suction chamber underlying its permeable portion and having a central discharge for solids and a peripheral overfiow for liquid, said overiow being in a plane below the plane of the apical portionWof the cone, and means for supplying material .to be treated to said pan.

1.1. The combination of a circular pan having a conical portion and an upturned rim forming a gutter at the base of the cone, said conical portion being permeable and having an underlying suction chamber, and devices operable in a circular patli" over the permeable portion of the cone, said devices having means for progressively moving the sands and slimes upwardly over` the permeable surface of the pan and over an unsubmerged permeable portion thereof, said pan having means for discharging solids at its apex and having a liquid overow at its periphery lying in a plane below the plane of the apical portion of the cone, and means for directing -a reverse current of fluid through the permeable surface of the cone.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature.

WALKER J. BOUDWIN.

Correction 1n Letters Patent No. 1,201,014.

It. is hereby certified that Letmrelatent No. 1,201,014, granted October 10, 1916, upon the application of Walter J. Boudwin, of Salt Lake City, Utah, for an improvement. in Classiiers and Dewaterers," were erroneously issued to The General Engineering Company, of Salt Lake City, Utah, a. corporation of Utah, whereas said Batters Petent should have been issued to the inventor, said Boudtn' and The General Enginceng Company, said corporation being owner of one-half interest only in said invention, as shown by the records of assignments inthis office; and that the said Letters Patent should be reed with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oice.

Signed and sealed this 21st day of November, A. D., 1916.

[.snAL.) F. W. H. CLAY,

Acting Commuioner of Paume.

C1, 21o-1o. 

